BEARDED DRAGONS

SPECIES POGONA

There are two types of Bearded Dragon kept
in New Zealand. One is the Inland Bearded Dragon (Pogona vitticeps), and
the other is the Eastern Bearded Dragon (Pogona barbata). The Inland
Bearded Dragon is from inland west New South Wales and Queensland, hates
humidity, and loves a very hot and dry enclosure. If the humidity is to high it can cause
respiratory infections and if not treated quickly, death can occur.The Eastern
Bearded Dragon is from Eastern Coast of Australia and ranges from the Cooktown
area of far north Queensland to south eastern South-Australia and is more tolerant of
humidity and cooler temperatures.

Like Turtles, the Bearded Dragon requires correct
lighting, diet and specialised housing in order for them to thrive.

Housing Hatchling Bearded Dragons can be
done easily in an empty glass fish tank. We have raised two hatchlings in a tank 100 x 40
x 40cm. If I was to raise up to four hatchlings then I would recommend using a tank 120 x
45 x 45cm. A small water dish for drinking from, bark on the floor, plenty of logs to
climb and hide under, a flat rock under a heat lamp, and a UVA / UVB Reptile light above
was pretty much the tank set up. It is worth mentioning here that the UVA / UVB Reptile
light must be no more than 300mm away from the Dragons basking spot as
the effectiveness of the light is greatly reduced the further away it is. See Reptile
Lighting page for the correct lighting for
your Reptile.